Charter school still standing

When the Barnstable Community Horace Mann Charter Public School sought support for the renewal of its charter last fall, it came cautiously and with concerns.

Kathleen Szmit

BCHMCPS looks to future in spite of challenges

When the Barnstable Community Horace Mann Charter Public School sought support for the renewal of its charter last fall, it came cautiously and with concerns. According to the Massachusetts Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education, the school’s charter will likely be renewed, but with conditions and not necessarily with the full support of Supt. Dr. Mary Czajkowski.

In a letter dated Nov. 5, which Czajkowski stated she’d be sending during a September school committee meeting, the superintendent details her concerns, including the school’s enrollment policy with regard to accepting out-of-district students.

In its reply, DESE said it discovered that it had approved more than once the school’s policy of allowing out-of-district students even though that was a violation of state law.

“It has come to my attention that the Department has approved the enrollment policy of BCHMCPS in error,” wrote Assoc. Commissioner Cliff Chuang, “without requiring revisions with respect to the enrollment of non-resident students.”

Under the laws governing Horace Mann charter schools, students not residing in the Barnstable School District and/or who are not siblings of students currently enrolled at BCHMCPS may not enroll in the school.

During its recent enrollment period the school accepted two out-of-district siblings, which it will be able to allow, but future enrollees must be from within the school district.

Both BCHMCPS Board of Trustees Chairman Ron Bearse and Principal Marilee Cantelmo said the state’s error was overlooked from the time the original policy was drafted until now, including when the school revised its policy in 2011.

While respectful of the law, Cantelmo, Bearse and board vice chair Andrea Wood expressed concern during a Feb. 20 meeting.

“We’re attracting students to the district, and the money that comes with them into the district,” Wood said. “It behooves everyone to have these kids come to our school.”

In her Nov. 5 letter, and at the September school committee meeting, Czajkowski (who was unavailable for comment) expressed concerns about BCHMCPS being able to cap its total number of enrolled students, something the district’s regular public elementary schools can’t do.

“We don’t get to cap the enrollment at any of our other elementary schools,” Czajkowski said at the September meeting. “By capping enrollment you create lower class sizes. That’s attractive to students and teachers. I wish I could have that across every elementary school.”

In her letter, Czajkowski encouraged DESE to “identify clear roles and responsibilities for the leadership responsibilities of Horace Mann charter schools,” “Dissolve the Horace Mann model,” or to approve the charter renewal with various conditions, including removing the enrollment cap.

According to Jonathan Considine, DESE’s director of Board and Media Relations, the commissioner’s proposed action is a renewal with five time-specific conditions. By the end of June the school must submit a comprehensive evaluation of the school’s Math and English Language Arts programs conducted by an independent consultant; by July 31 must receive approval for an action plan that specifies how the school will improve Math and ELA, with regard to Special Education and English Language Learner students, and must implement key elements of its educational program model or request an amendment; by Sept. 30, 2015 must demonstrate that the school is an academic success, and must provide written evidence of consistent implementation of its educational program in alignment with its charter.

Bearse said the conditions were similar to those the Board had already been discussing as part of its goal to bring BCHMCPS to a Level I school according to state accountability guidelines.

“It’s nothing we didn’t expect, but at the same time we really welcome this,” Bearse said. “Now we’re just going to go a little deeper and define what is needed.”

In the coming weeks the Board will retool the school’s Accountability Plan, while strategizing the conditions made by DESE.

“We’ve come this far and are going forward,” said Bearse. “We know where we want to go and we know how to get there.”

“We’re not here to break the law,” added Wood. “We’re here to do the best for our kids. It’s always about doing what’s best for our kids.”

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